“I AM VERY SATISFIED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS TIME”

Prof. (FH) Kurt Hoffmann's career at the FH Kufstein Tirol began in March 2001. In the autumn of the same year, the current Building B of the FH Kufstein Tirol had just been occupied - a symbol of the still young and manageable organization in whose growth Hoffmann played a decisive role. “Now to see what it has become - that fills me with pride,” says the business economist. He is particularly moved by the support the higher education institution gave him at the end of his career: After a health setback, he is grateful that he was able to end his professional career in an orderly fashion and with a good feeling. “That's not a given - but I was able to experience it.”

FROM PRODUCT MANAGER TO TEACHER - A CONSCIOUS CHANGE

Before switching to teaching, Hoffmann worked in industry, including as a product manager at Swarovski and later as a sales manager in the lighting industry. It was not until he was 34 that he began a degree program in business education. This combination of practice and pedagogy shaped his approach to teaching: “I knew how things worked outside - and I knew how to prepare content didactically.” A transition he has never regretted: “It's one of the few professions where you become more valuable over the years.”

E-LEARNING: FROM IDEALISM TO KNOWLEDGE

A central chapter of his time at the FH Kufstein was the topic of e-learning. Hoffmann was instrumental in developing the topic at the higher education institution, led a major project with ten universities of applied sciences funded by the Federal Ministry and introduced Moodle, a new digital learning platform at the time. “It was pioneering work back then,” he recalls. Today, he takes a more differentiated view of e-learning: "Digital tools are valuable tools - but good teaching thrives on relationships and emotion, especially in direct, personal exchanges. This human dimension cannot be replaced by technology in all areas."

Hoffmann emphasizes that didactics does not come from textbooks. "You have to find your own way. Authenticity is everything." Even if the first courses are not perfect, you shouldn't be discouraged. His message to new teachers is pragmatic: “Learn by doing - and don't be afraid to make mistakes.”

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES DEGREE PROGRAM: CHANGE WITH VISION

As a long-standing lecturer on the International Business Studies degree program, Hoffmann has been closely involved in its development. The International Business Analysis course, which he helped design, is particularly close to his heart: students analyzed the international marketability of Austrian products during their semester abroad. “That was internationality in action - and an eye-opening experience for many.”

With regard to the development of the content of the degree program, he sees shifts: Away from traditional business studies, towards digitalization and interdisciplinary topics. Even though he welcomes this development in principle, he advocates a stronger return to business-related fundamentals. “Business administration is the foundation for understanding complex interrelationships - this must not be lost.”

LESSONS FROM 24 YEARS - AND A DESIRE FOR MORE

When he looks back on his early days, Hoffmann recognizes above all how much he himself has grown. “Today, I could give my lectures from a standing start - without a script.” It was a gradual process: first you struggle to survive, then you become more confident in your subject and finally you can concentrate fully on the students. And he concludes about his work at the FH Kufstein Tirol: “I am very satisfied and grateful for this time.”

WHAT REMAINS - AND WHAT IS TO COME

He has clear plans for his retirement: traveling with his caravan, a life closer to nature, herbalism and music. But the spark of teaching also remains: “If someone asks me if I want to give a lecture - why not?”

Hoffmann draws his personal conclusion as follows: "At the end of the path is knowledge - but it is not found in a single book. It comes from doing, experiencing and reflecting."

Links:

• Prof. (FH) Kurt Hoffmann on Linkedin
• With the caravan to the lecture | News
• Kurt Hoffmann Says a Quiet Goodbye | News